No pictures today, but that is not due to any lack of things to report. When I opened the Tern hide a bar-tailed godwit and 2 dunlin were on Ibsley Water and, as a bonus, a fine drake goosander flew in. The gulls on the island were strangely disturbed, I could see not obvious cause, but the ones at the western end would not settle, as thought there was something on the island. As the gulls flew about I made out a single first summer Mediterranean gull in the mob of black-headed gull.
By late morning 3 little gull were over the lake, a single first summer and two adults. Adults in full breeding plumage are one of the finest of all gulls. Just as they had appeared out of the blue at sometime in the morning they then disappeared as suddenly.
Other birds today included a good number of swift, a greenshank and at least one hobby. Looking in the logbooks in the hides I see that there was a red kite seen yesterday and that up to 4 greenshank were seen at the weekend, as was a small flock of whimbrel.
One final news item is that the seasonal path that links the reserve northward to Mockbeggar Lane and the opening of which has seemed like some impossible dream, has happened, today! I finally got go ahead to open up as it seems the final administrative hurdle had been cleared. I will need to trim the route again as it has grown up since I cut it in March, but it is perfectly passable.
Bob,I am most grateful to learn that the north/south path promised by Hampshire County Council under the Review of Mineral Permissions at the former Hanson,Ringwood Quarry in February 2003 is open for use.Now people in the Ibsley,Mockbeggar and Gorley area have the chance to walk to the lakes,at least during the summer months.
ReplyDeleteIf the path had been open last Saturday,I would have been able to photograph the tresspassers at the Control Tower.